Automated method and system for interacting with telephone call trees

ABSTRACT

An automated method, system and computer instructions for users to visually navigate telephone call trees are disclosed. A caller can connect to an automated telephone answering service, and download the service&#39;s call tree. The caller can view a display with the call tree, and modify or rearrange the order in which the menu options of the call tree are displayed. The user can then store the modified call tree for use in the future. Responsive to the selection of a specified node in the displayed call tree, an automated process can create a macro or similar set of software instructions, which can be invoked by the calling device during a subsequent connection to the automated telephone answering system associated with the subject call tree, in order to enter a queue associated with the selected node that enables the user to interact with the selected node.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to telephony, and in particular,but not exclusively, to an automated method and system for interactingwith call trees.

2. Description of Related Art:

Automated telephone answering systems are typically softwareapplications that answer and process incoming telephone calls. So-called“call path” or “call tree” systems are automated telephone answeringsystems used by businesses to reduce the costs of answering customers'calls. However, these cost reductions are usually offset by theinconveniences forced on the customers, who typically have to wadethrough a long, confusing and sometimes frustrating maze of options inmenu form. These menus of options are commonly referred to as “calltrees”.

A significant drawback of existing call tree systems is that theytypically require callers to make multiple attempts before they cantraverse the menu options successfully. For example, in the health carefield, a patient might submit a payment request to an insurance providerfor services performed by a healthcare provider. If the healthcareprovider fails to submit the appropriate paperwork to the insuranceprovider in order to support the alleged services performed, theinsurance provider might reject the patient's submission. Typically, thepatient's only recourse is to call the insurance provider. If theinsurance provider's answering system uses a complicated and/orconfusing call tree, having to navigate such a complicated or confusingcall tree only exacerbates the patient's concern and frustration aboutthe rejected payment request.

Another drawback of existing call tree systems is that significantlydifferent call trees are typically used in similar technologies. Forexample, a call tree used for voice mail in a cellular telephone systemcan be significantly different than the call tree used for voice mail inthe wire-line telephone system within the same region.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an improved method andsystem that allows a caller to interact with and modify a call tree, andthereby make it easier and quicker for the caller to navigate the calltree options successfully.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an automated method, system and computerinstructions for users to visually navigate telephone call trees. Acaller can connect to an automated telephone answering service, anddownload the service's call tree. The caller can view a display with thecall tree, and modify or rearrange the order in which the menu optionsof the call tree are displayed. The user can then store the modifiedcall tree for use in the future. Responsive to the selection of aspecified node in the displayed call tree, an automated process cancreate a macro or similar set of software instructions, which can beinvoked by the calling device during a subsequent connection to theautomated telephone answering system associated with the subject calltree, in order to enter a queue associated with the selected node thatenables the user to interact with the selected node.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are setforth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well asa preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, willbest be understood by reference to the following detailed description ofan illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating a plurality of interconnected,heterogeneous networks in which the present invention may beimplemented;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial diagram of a wireless telephone that can be usedfor implementing a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a wireless telephone, such as any of thewireless telephones illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are related exemplary screens of display that illustrateprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process for visually rearranging telephonecall trees that can be used to implement a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an automated process for interacting withtelephone call trees in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the figures, and in particular with reference toFIG. 1, a system diagram illustrating a plurality of interconnected,heterogeneous networks in which the present invention may be implementedis depicted. As illustrated, exemplary system 100 includes InternetProtocol (IP) network 102, Local Area Network (LAN)/Wide Area Network(WAN) 104, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 109, cellularwireless network 112, and satellite communications network 116. As such,system 100 makes up a plurality of heterogeneous networks, and one ormore of these networks can be used to implement the present invention.

IP network 102 can be a publicly available IP network, a private IPnetwork, or a combination of public and private IP networks. In anycase, IP network 102 operates according to the Internet Protocol and canroute packets through its numerous switches and transmission paths. IPnetworks are generally known in the art to be expandable, fairly easy touse and heavily supported. Coupled to IP network 102 is Domain NameServer (DNS) 108 to which queries may be sent, with such queries eachrequesting an IP address based upon a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). IPnetwork 102 can support 32 bit IP addresses as well as 128 bit IPaddresses.

LAN/WAN 104 is coupled to IP network 102 via proxy server 106 (or anyother appropriate connection). LAN/WAN 104 can operate according tovarious communication protocols, such as the Internet Protocol, theAsynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) protocol, or other known packetswitched protocols. Proxy server 106 functions primarily to route databetween IP network 102 and LAN/WAN 104. A firewall that precludesunwanted communications from entering LAN/WAN 104 may also be located atthe site of proxy server 106.

Computer 120 is coupled to LAN/WAN 104 and supports communications withLAN/WAN 104. Computer 120 can employ LAN/WAN 104 and proxy server 106 tocommunicate with other devices across IP network 102. Suchcommunications are generally known in the art and will not be furtherdescribed herein except to expand upon the teachings of the presentinvention. Also, phone 122 can be coupled to computer 120 and employedto initiate IP Telephony communications with another phone or voiceterminal using the IP Telephony functions available. In such an IPtelephony system, a service provider can deploy a gatekeeper (not shown)to manage IP telephony for its users. IP phone 154 connected to IPnetwork 102 (or other phone, such as, for example, phone 124) can beused to communicate with phone 122 using IP telephony.

PSTN 109 is a circuit switched network that is employed primarily forvoice communications, such as those enabled by standard phone 124.However, PSTN 109 can also support the transmission of data. Datatransmissions may be supported to a tone-based terminal, such asfacsimile (FAX) machine 125, a tone-based modem contained in computer126, or another device that can be coupled to PSTN 109 via a digitalconnection, such as an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) line,an Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), or another appropriatedigital connection to a terminal that supports such a connection. Asillustrated, a voice terminal, such as phone 128, can be coupled to PSTN109 via computer 126 rather than being supported directly by PSTN 109,as can be the case with phone 124. Thus, for example, computer 126 cansupport IP telephony with voice terminal 128.

Cellular network 112 supports wireless communications with terminalsoperating within its service area (e.g., providing coverage for a city,county, state, country, etc.). Cellular network 112 can include aplurality of base transmitter system (BTS) towers (e.g., tower 130), andeach such tower can define and service radiotelephone or wirelesscommunications within a respective cell. Wireless terminals operate inconjunction with cellular network 112 and can include wireless handsets132 and wireless-enabled laptop or personal computers 134, for example.Wireless handsets 132 can be, for example, personal digital assistants(PDA's), radiotelephones, wireless or cellular telephones, or two-waypagers. Cellular network 112 can be coupled to IP network 102 viagateway 114.

Wireless handsets 132 and wireless-enabled laptop or personal computers134 can communicate with cellular network 112 using, for example, awireless application protocol (WAP). The WAP is an open, globalspecification that allows mobile users with wireless devices, such as,for example, mobile phones, pagers, two-way telephones phones,radiotelephones, smart-phones, communicators, PDA's, and portable laptopor similar personal computers, to easily and almost instantly access andinteract with network provided information and services. The WAP is acommunications protocol and application environment and can be built onany operating system (OS) including, for example, Palm OS, EPOC, WindowsCE, FLEXOS, OS/9, and a Java OS. The WAP can also provideinteroperability between different families of devices.

Furthermore, the WAP is a wireless equivalent of Hypertext TransferProtocol (HTTP) and Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). The HTTP-likecomponent of the WAP defines the communication protocol between thehandheld device and a server or gateway. This component addressescharacteristics that are unique to wireless devices, such as data rateand round-trip response time. The HTML-like component of the WAP,Wireless Markup Language (WML), defines markup and scripting languagesfor displaying information to, and interacting with, the users. The WMLcomponent of the WAP is highly focused on the limited display size andlimited input devices available on small, handheld devices. For example,a typical cell phone may have a 4×10-character display with 16-graylevels, a numeric keypad, and up/down volume keys.

Cellular network 112 operates according to a particular mobileradiotelephone operating standard, which can be, for example, anAdvanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) standard, Digital-AMPS (D-AMPS)standard, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) standard, Time DivisionMultiple Access (TDMA) standard, Global System for Mobile Communications(GSM) standard, or any other appropriate mobile radiotelephone operatingstandard. As such, independent of the standards supported by cellularnetwork 112, cellular network 112 can support voice and datacommunications with terminal units, such as, for example, terminals 132and 134.

Exemplary satellite network 116 includes at least one satellite dish 136that operates in conjunction with one or more satellites 138 to providesatellite communications with a plurality of terminals, such as, forexample, laptop or personal computer 142 and satellite handset 140.Also, satellite handset 140 can be a two-way pager. Satellite network116 can be serviced by one or more geo-synchronous orbitingcommunications satellites, a plurality of medium earth orbit (MEO)communications satellites, or a plurality of low earth orbit (LEO)communications satellites. In any case, satellite network 116 canprovide voice and data communications and services and can be coupled toIP network 102 via gateway 118.

Wireless Proxy 160 can be coupled to IP network 102 and also to aplurality of transmission/reception towers (e.g., tower 162), each ofwhich can provide wireless communications with wireless devices such as,for example, wireless device 164. Wireless Proxy 160 can provide accessto IP network 102 for wireless device 164. For example, wireless device164 can be a PDA or wireless telephone, which may require proprietary orother special protocols in order to communicate with IP network 102. Forexample, wireless proxy server 160 can be a 3Com server utilizing 3Comprotocols for communicating with a Palm VII, which is a handheld,portable computing device available from 3Com Corporation in SantaClara, Calif.

Also, wireless proxy 160 can be a 3Com proxy server supportingcommunications with, for example, a Palm VII personal organizer, andportable computing device 164 can be a Palm VII personal organizer. Assuch, communications between wireless proxy server 160 and portablecomputing device 164 can be facilitated by the use of Palm QueryApplications (PQAs).

A PQA is similar to a mini-Web site that can reside on portablecomputing device 164. In other words, a PQA can be a special type ofrecords database. A typical PQA can contain an HTML form, or a list ofhyperlinks that request additional information either locally onpersonal computing device 164 or remotely via the Internet. As such,PQAs are available that can access targeted bits of Internetinformation, similar to clippings from a newspaper. Typically, ahandheld computer user does not focus on following hyperlinks to theInternet (although this is available), but instead, a typical usercomposes a simple query in a PQA (for example a request for a stockquote), and then sends that query over the airwaves.

In any event, the configurations and operations of the networks shown inFIG. 1 are described herein for illustrative and explanatory purposesonly, and are intended as examples and not as architectural limitationsfor the processes of the present invention.

With reference now to FIG. 2, a pictorial diagram of a wirelesstelephone is depicted that can be used for implementing a preferredembodiment of the present invention. Wireless telephone 200 can includedisplay 202 for presenting at least textual and graphical information.Display 202 can be a known display device, such as a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), plasma display, or any other display device that can beused appropriately with such a wireless telephone. For this exemplaryembodiment, display 202 can be used to present and manipulate, amongother things, a call tree or similar menu of options provided, forexample, from an automated telephone answering system. Also, for thisembodiment, wireless telephone 200 can include appropriate software toexecute a Web browser and perform such processing functions asdownloading and uploading data from and to the Internet, and similarother processing functions. As such, wireless telephone 200 can alsoperform the two-way communication functions of a typical wirelesstelephone.

Wireless telephone 200 may also include keypad 204, speaker 206, antenna208, and microphone 212. Keypad 204 may be used to receive typed orcursor-like input from a user. Speaker 206 provides a mechanism foraudio output, such as the voice audio of a party to whom the user ofwireless telephone 200 may be speaking. Microphone 212 provides amechanism for audio input such as for speaking to a called party.Antenna 208 provides a mechanism for establishing a wirelesscommunications link between wireless phone 200 and a network, such as,for example, network 102 in FIG. 1.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a block diagram of a wireless telephone isdepicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. Wireless telephone 300 is an example of a wireless telephone,such as wireless telephone 200 in FIG. 2, in which code or instructionsimplementing the processes of the present invention may be stored andexecuted. Exemplary wireless telephone 300 includes bus 302 to whichprocessor 304 and main memory 306 are connected. Display adapter 308,keypad adapter 310, storage 312, microphone adapter 318, audio adapter314, and automatic answer unit 316 also are connected to bus 302.

For this exemplary embodiment, an OS runs on processor 304 and can beused to coordinate and provide control of various components withinwireless telephone 300 in FIG. 3. Instructions for the OS andapplications or programs can be located on storage devices, such asstorage device 312, and can be loaded into main memory 306 for executionby processor 304. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciatethat the hardware in FIG. 3 can vary depending on the implementation.Other internal hardware or peripheral devices, such as flash ROM (orequivalent nonvolatile memory) or optical disk drives and the like, maybe used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in FIG. 3.

With reference now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, related exemplary screens ofdisplay are depicted that illustrate principles of the presentinvention. For example, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, the exemplary information shown in FIGS. 4A and 4Bcan represent illustrative screens of display of call trees or menuoptions for an automated telephone answering system. Also, for example,the exemplary information shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B can representillustrative screens of display on a wireless telephone (e.g., wirelesstelephone 132, 140, 164), and/or a monitor for a computer (e.g., 120,126, 134, 142). For this exemplary embodiment, it may be assumed (forillustrative purposes only) that the exemplary information of FIGS. 4Aand 4B are related screens of display for the display of wireless (e.g.,cellular) telephone 132. In this regard, in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention, exemplary screen of display 402 bin FIG. 4B represents a rearranged version of the call tree shown asscreen of display 402 a in FIG. 4A.

With reference now to FIG. 5, a flowchart of a process for visuallyrearranging telephone call trees is depicted that can be used toimplement a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As such, forthis example, the process illustrated in FIG. 5 may be implemented inwireless telephone 132.

Exemplary process 500 begins by a user accessing a call tree of interest(step 502). For example, the user can place a telephone call (e.g., withwireless telephone 132) to a number associated with a particular serviceprovider (e.g., Information Technology services call center), and anautomated telephone answering system can answer that call. Also, forexample, the number called can be for a telephone associated with thatservice provider (e.g., wire-line telephone 128), and the number andtelephone also can be associated with a computer (e.g., 126) where suchan automated telephone answering system can reside. Once an appropriatetelephone connection is made between these telephones or telephonesystems, an application running in wireless telephone 132 (or the user)can determine whether or not this particular telephone number and/orservice provider has been called earlier (step 504). If not, wirelesstelephone 132 can display text describing this fact for the user. Inresponse, the user (e.g., or software application running in wirelesstelephone 132) can initiate a download (e.g., with an internal browser)of the service provider's call tree (step 506). As an alternative, theservice provider's call tree can be input (e.g., manually keyed)directly into wireless telephone 132. Also, as another alternative, aspeech recognition application running in wireless telephone 132 can beused for vocally inputting the call tree into wireless telephone 132.

Next, the application running in wireless telephone 132 can display ondisplay 202 the downloaded call tree (step 510). An illustrative exampleof such a downloaded call tree is call tree (or menu) 400 a shown inFIG. 4A. If desired, the user can view all or parts of downloaded calltree 400 a on display 202. Alternatively, for example, the user can viewall or parts of downloaded call tree 400 a on a monitor associated withcomputer 134, if that particular approach is preferred. In any event,for this example, it may be assumed that a user can still interact withand utilize call tree 400 a via keyed or typical inputs to wirelesstelephone 132 and/or computer 134.

Next, the user can decide whether or not to modify displayed call tree400 a (step 512). If not, at some pertinent point in time, the user candecide whether or not to terminate the call (step 514). If the userdecides not to terminate the call, then the flow can return to step 510.Otherwise, the call can be terminated if so desired.

If, for this example, the user decides to modify call tree 400 a at step512, the user can input instructions for the application running inwireless telephone 132 (or computer 143 if preferred) to modify selectedparts of call tree 400 a (step 516). For example, the user can perform a“click and drag” function with a cursor shown on display 202, andmanipulate and move the one or more highlighted parts of call tree 400 aon display 202.

As such, call tree 400 a can be rearranged so that option “#3” (e.g.,option activated by depressing the “3” button on wireless telephone 132)is actually at the top of the menu, because (for this example) that isthe function the user anticipates using the most. As another example,call tree 400 a can be rearranged so as to place the menu items not tobe used at the bottom of the call tree. As still another example, theuser may perform a “click and drag” or similar function and delete thehighlighted part or parts of call tree 400 a. Preferably, the “deleted”parts of call tree 400 a can be stored for later use, if so desired. Inany event, it should be understood that call tree 400 a can havenumerous sub-levels that are not actually depicted in FIG. 4A or 4B, andcall tree 400 a shown is not intended as an architectural limitation forthe present invention. Furthermore, call tree 400 a can includeadditional information that can be used to expand in response to userinput (e.g., a user depressing a “+” shown in the call tree. Forexample, a “+” next to the words “IT Services” can be “depressed” by auser to derive a definition of this term. The service provider canprovide such additional information, or the user can input text toannotate parts of the call tree and explain a particular selection orterm. As such, in accordance with principles of the present invention,the user can manipulate parts or nodes of call tree 400 a and thus makecall tree 400 a more user friendly. Example of such user actions areillustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

Referring to FIG. 4A, it may be assumed that a user has viewed call tree400 a on display 202 (e.g., step 510). Also, it may be assumed that theuser prefers not to use all of the options shown in call tree 400 a andhas performed a “click and drag” or similar function to delete parts ofcall tree 400 a (e.g., 402 a, 404 a, 406 a, 408 a, 410 a). As a result,for this example, these deleted parts are removed from modified calltree 400 b of FIG. 4B. Note that modified call tree 400 b is missing theexemplary deleted parts of call tree 400 a (e.g., 402 a, 404 a, 406 a,408 a, 410 a), which makes call tree 400 b more user friendly for theuser than call tree 400 a.

Next, for this exemplary embodiment, the user inputs instructions towireless telephone 132 to store modified call tree 400 b (step 518).Also, for example, the user can store the unmodified call tree (e.g.,call tree 400 a) if desired. The modified (and unmodified) call tree(s)can be stored in wireless telephone 132 (e.g., in storage 312 in FIG.3). However, as another option, modified call tree 400 b and unmodifiedcall tree 400 a can be stored at the service provider's storage location(e.g. computer 126).

Returning to step 504, if the application running in wireless telephone132 (or the user) determines that this particular telephone numberand/or service provider has been called earlier, then the application(or the user) can initiate an action for wireless telephone 132 (orcomputer 134) to retrieve a stored call tree, such as, for example,modified call tree 400 b (step 508). For example, the stored call treecan be retrieved from storage 312 in FIG. 3. The flow can then proceedto step 510.

With reference now to FIG. 6, a flowchart of an automated process forinteracting with telephone call trees is depicted in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention. As such, for thisexample, the automated process illustrated in FIG. 6 may be implementedas a macro or similar set of appropriate software instructions inwireless telephone 132, wireless device 140 or 164, computer 134, or anyother appropriate communication and/or processing device (e.g., as shownin FIG. 1).

Essentially, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, responsive to a selection of a specified node in a displayedcall tree, automated process 600 can create a macro or similar set ofsoftware instructions, which can be invoked by a calling device during asubsequent connection to an automated telephone answering systemassociated with the subject call tree, in order to enter a queueassociated with the selected node that enables a user to interact with adisplay of the selected node. For example, during a first session orcall, a user can select a particular path or node in a call tree, andthe selection can result in the assignment of a “hot” button on thedisplay to that path or node. During a subsequent session or call, theuser can “depress” the “hot” button, and the macro places the user in await queue to access that particular path or node. The “hot” button cansend a message to the service provider indicating the node to beaccessed. Alternatively, the caller's phone (e.g., wireless telephone132) can include an appropriate software application to emit codes thatcan be sent to the service provider indicating the node to be accessed.

Exemplary process 600 begins by a communication and/or processing device(e.g., wireless telephone 132, computer 134, etc.) displaying anaccessed call tree of interest (step 602). For example, the display canbe provided in conjunction with a user's telephone call (e.g., withwireless telephone 132) to a number associated with a particular serviceprovider (e.g., Information Technology services call center as shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B), and an automated telephone answering system can haveanswered that call. Alternatively, exemplary process 600 can beimplemented primarily for visually rearranging one or more locallystored (e.g., in wireless telephone 132, computer 134, etc.) call treeswithout calling the service provider(s). Next, process 600 can identifyany node(s) of interest in the displayed call tree (step 604). Forexample, a user of the communication device displaying the call tree ofinterest may have modified the call tree (e.g., step 516 in FIG. 5) by a“clicking and dragging” action on the display, and then deleting (orrearranging) one or more of the nodes (e.g., nodes 402 a, 404 a, 406 a,408 a, 410 a of FIG. 4A) of the displayed call tree. As such, process600 can identify those nodes (e.g., nodes 402 a, 404 a, 406 a, 408 a,410 a of FIG. 4A) and/or the remaining nodes of interest of thedisplayed call tree.

Next, automated process 600 can eliminate any node(s) not of interest(e.g., nodes 402 a, 404 a, 406 a, 408 a, 410 a of FIG. 4A) from the calltree for display (step 606). Process 600 can then reassign numbers tothe nodes of interest of the call tree for display (step 608). Forexample, referring to exemplary, modified call tree 400 b shown in FIG.4B, the numbers “3” and “4” can be assigned to the nodes numbered “4”and “5” entitled “UNIX” and “MS Office,” respectively. Also, the numbers“2” and “5” can be assigned to the nodes numbered “3” and “5” entitled“Password issues” and “Telephone issues,” respectively.

Next, process 600 can create one or more macros (or similar sets ofsoftware instructions) that can be used for mapping nodes and/or nodenumbers in an original call tree (e.g., call tree 400 a in FIG. 4A) tothe nodes of the modified call tree (e.g., call tree 400 b in FIG. 4B)(step 610). In this way, process 600 can create a macro that can beinvoked by a calling device (e.g., wireless telephone 132), responsiveto selection of a specified node, for subsequent connections to anautomated telephone answering system, which enables the calling deviceto enter a queue associated with the specified node. The calling devicecan then display the modified, simplified call tree (step 612).

It is important to note that although the exemplary method describedwith respect to FIG. 6 shows that the macro can be created from themodified call tree (e.g., call tree 400 b in FIG. 4B), those of ordinaryskill in the art should understand that it is also within the scope ofthe present invention to create the macro from the unmodified call tree(e.g., call tree 400 a of FIG. 4A) as well.

It is also important to note that while the present invention has beendescribed in the context of a fully functioning data processing systemor system of communication networks, those of ordinary skill in the artwill appreciate that the processes of the present invention are capableof being distributed in the form of a computer readable medium ofinstructions and a variety of forms and that the present inventionapplies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearingmedia actually used to carry out the distribution. Examples of computerreadable media include recordable-type media, such as a floppy disk, ahard disk drive, a RAM, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, and transmission-type media,such as digital and analog communications links, wired or wirelesscommunications links using transmission forms, such as, for example,radio frequency and light wave transmissions. The computer readablemedia may take the form of coded formats that are decoded for actual usein a particular data processing system.

The description of the present invention has been presented for purposesof illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention, the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

1. A method for interacting with a telephone call tree, comprising thesteps of: accessing a telephone call tree associated with an antomatedtelephone answering service; downloading a copy of said telephone calltree to form a downloaded call tree; identifying a plurality of nodes ofsaid downloaded call tree, said plurality of nodes being of interest toa user of said telephone call tree; deleting, from said downloaded calltree, nodes that are not in said plurality of nodes to produce anindividualized call tree; associating an instruction set with a node ofsaid plurality of nodes, said instruction set mapping said node to arespective node of said telephone call tree; storing said individualizedcall tree at a location accessible to a calling device; and wherein auser of said calling device interacts with said telephone call treethrough said individualized call tree.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe accessing step accesses a hyper-link, said hyper-link including anetwork address associated with said telephone call tree.
 3. The methodof claim 1, further comprising the step of: assigning a respectiveidentifier to each node of said plurality of nodes.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the accessing step accesses a data storage locationassociated with the automated telephone answering system and thedownloading step downloads said copy of said telephone call tree fromsaid data storage location.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the stepsare performed with a wireless telephone.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein te steps are performed with a computer.
 7. The method of claim3, wherein said respective identifier comprises a respective numberassociated with each node of said plurality of nodes.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said instruction set comprises a set of softwareinstructions.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said instruction setcomprises a software macro.
 10. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising the step of: wherein at the time said telephone call tree isaccessed, if a determination is made that said telephone call tree hasbeen previously accessed by said calling device, retrieving saidindividualized call tree and displaying said individualized call tree onsaid calling device.
 11. A system for interacting with a telephone calltree, comprising: an automated telephone answering system; and acommunication unit, said communication unit coupled to said automatedtelephone answering system and operable to: access a telephone call treeassociated with said automated telephone answering system; download acopy of said telephone call tree to form a downloaded call tree;identify a plurality of nodes of said downloaded call tree, saidplurality of nodes being of interest to a user of said telephone calltree; delete, from said downloaded call tree, nodes that are not in saidplurality of nodes to produce an individualized call tree; associate aninstruction set with a node of said plurality of nodes, said instructionset mapping said node to a respective node of said telephone call tree;store said individualized call tree at a location accessible to saidcommunication unit; and wherein a user of said communication unitinteracts with said telephone call tree through said individualized calltree.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the access operation accessesa hyper-link, said hyper-link including a network address associatedwith said telephone call tree.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein saidcommunication unit is further operable to: retrieve a call tree chosenfrom the group consisting of said individualized call tree and saidtelephone call tree; and display said call tree.
 14. The system of claim11, wherein said communication unit comprises a wireless telephone. 15.The system of claim 11, wherein said communication unit comprises acomputer.
 16. The system of claim 11, wherein said communication unit isfurther operable to: assign a respective identifier to each node of saidplurality of nodes.
 17. A computer program product in a computerreadable medium for interacting with a telephone call tree, the computerprogram product comprising: first instructions for accessing a telephonecall tree associated with an automated telephone answering service anddownloading a copy of said telephone call tree to form a downloaded calltree; second instructions for identifying a plurality of nodes of saiddownloaded call tree, said plurality of nodes being of interest to auser of said telephone call tree and deleting, from said downloaded calltree, nodes that are not in said plurality of nodes to produce anindividualized call tree; third instructions for associating aninstruction set with a node of said plurality of nodes, said instructionset mapping said node to a respective node of said telephone call treeand storing said individualized call tree at a location accessible to acalling device; and wherein a user of said calling device interacts withsaid telephone call tree through said individualized call tree.
 18. Thecomputer program product of claim 17, wherein said first instructionscomprise instructions for: accessing a hyper-link, said hyper-linkincluding a network address associated with said telephone call tree;and downloading said telephone call tree.
 19. The computer programproduct of claim 17, further comprising: fourth instructions forassigning a respective identifier to each node of said plurality ofnodes of said modified telephone call tree.
 20. The computer programproduct of claim 17, wherein said instructions are performed by aprocessor in a wireless communication device.